Background: After Bike to Work Week 2006, I was moved to begin
full-time bike commuting from my home in the Continental area of Flagstaff.
This 12 mile round trip had been done in summer of 2005 and spring of 2006
on my Schwinn Ranger mountain bike- a bike purchased from Target in 2003.

After eliminating several potential bikes, I put an Electra 21 speed on
layaway at Absolute Bikes in Flagstaff (MSRP: $389- almost as much as I had
paid for my 1984 Nishiki. Every other bike I had ever owned was less than
$100). Research reveled to me that I would be much happier with an
internally geared hub for everyday commuting. And since my commute was
hilly, a 7 or 8 speed internal hub was needed. Gulp. I trotted back down to
Absolute Bikes, who were delighted to upgrade my layaway to the $800 Electra
Townie 8i.

Geez, this was almost as much as my first car! I knew I also wanted lights
front and rear that were mounted permanently to the bike, plus a rack to
carry stuff, none of which the Electra offered at that time. After pricing
out all the "after market" upgrades I required, the Breezer Uptown 8 began
to look a lot more competitive, price-wise ($1050 + tax). I took one for a
ride and immediately knew this was my new bike...if I could afford it.

Luckily, I was moonlighting teaching summer classes at Coconino Community
College, so had a little "extra" cash. I actually bought 3 new bikes that
summer, but only the Breezer has stayed in my fleet of bikes. I have done
extensive physical upgrades to the bike to give it a "retro" look, but the
frame, tires, drive train, lights, etc. are all still as they were when I
bought it. Check out what the "stock" bike looked like: